Arrow insert apparatus

Abstract

The present specification describes novel arrow inserts and arrow systems that may be used for archery. One aspect of the novel arrow inserts relates to two or more separated contact portions or fit rings. The use of at least two fit rings contacting an inside diameter of an arrow shaft at a spaced interval provides better alignment of the arrow insert, and thus an arrow point, with the arrow shaft. The novel arrow inserts may be formed with a lip to limit insertion into the arrow shaft, or without a lip. Inserts without a lip may allow the insert to be fully inserted into the arrow shaft. The inserts may be sized to fit snugly into any arrow shaft, including reduced diameter hunter arrows described herein. The inserts may also be sized to accommodate standard arrow point assemblies, half-out arrow point assemblies, or smaller diameter arrow point assemblies.

1. An apparatus, comprising:
 an arrow tip assembly, the arrow tip assembly comprising:
 an arrow point having a shank portion and a head portion, the shank portion having a shank diameter; 
 an insert into which the arrow point is removably secured, the insert comprising a first fit ring, a second fit ring spaced from the first fit ring, and a necked-down portion disposed between the first and second fit rings, the necked-down portion having a necked-down diameter, the necked-down diameter being less than the shank diameter; 
 a beveled edge formed on the second fit ring. 
 
 
   
   
     2. An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the insert further comprises:
 a multi-diameter cylinder, the multi-diameter cylinder comprising:
 a first end and a second end; 
 a main body first diameter portion disposed in the first end; 
 a first step up from the first diameter portion to a second diameter portion, the second diameter portion comprising the first fit ring; 
 a second step up to a third diameter portion, the third diameter portion comprising the second fit ring. 
 
 
   
   
     3. An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the insert further comprises:
 a multi-diameter cylinder, the multi-diameter cylinder comprising:
 a first end and a second end; 
 a main body first diameter portion disposed in the first end; 
 a first step up from the first diameter portion to a second diameter portion, the second diameter portion comprising the first fit ring; 
 a second step up to a third diameter portion, the third diameter portion comprising the second fit ring; 
 a third step down from the first diameter portion to a fourth diameter portion, the fourth diameter portion spacing the third diameter portion from the first diameter portion. 
 
 
   
   
     4. An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the insert further comprises:
 a multi-diameter cylinder, the multi-diameter cylinder comprising:
 a first end and a second end; 
 a main body first diameter portion; 
 a first step up from the first diameter portion to a second diameter portion, the second diameter portion comprising the first fit ring; 
 a lip extending radially outward from second diameter portion; 
 a second step up to a third diameter portion, the third diameter portion comprising the second fit ring; 
 a third step down from the first diameter portion to a fourth diameter portion opposite the second diameter portion, the fourth diameter portion spacing the third diameter portion from the first diameter portion; 
 wherein the lip, first diameter portion, and second diameter portion comprise the first end, and the third and fourth diameter portions comprise the second end. 
 
 
   
   
     5. An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the insert further comprises:
 a multi-diameter cylinder, the multi-diameter cylinder comprising:
 a first end and a second end; 
 a main body first diameter portion; 
 a first step up from the first diameter portion to a second diameter portion, the second diameter portion comprising the first fit ring; 
 a lip extending radially outward from second diameter portion; 
 a second step up to a third diameter portion, the third diameter portion comprising the second fit ring; 
 a third step down from the first diameter portion to a fourth diameter portion opposite the second diameter portion, the fourth diameter portion spacing the third diameter portion from the first diameter portion; 
 wherein the lip, first diameter portion, and second diameter portion comprise the first end, and the third and fourth diameter portions comprise the second end; 
 wherein the first end comprises metal and the second end comprises plastic. 
 
 
   
   
     6. An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second fit rings are spaced apart by a distance of at least one inch. 
   
   
     7. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a point coupled to the insert. 
   
   
     8. An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second fit rings comprise an outer diameter sized to fit snugly within an arrow shaft having an inside diameter of 0.200 inches or less. 
   
   
     9. An archery apparatus, comprising:
 an arrow insert, the arrow insert comprising:
 a generally cylindrical body having first and second ends, and further comprising:
 a first diameter portion having a first diameter and a plurality of glue recesses; 
 a second diameter portion at the first end having a second diameter greater than the first diameter; 
 a third diameter portion at the second end having a third diameter substantially equal to the second diameter and spaced longitudinally from the second diameter; 
 a beveled edge formed on the third diameter portion; 
 a fourth diameter portion disposed between the second and third diameter portions, the fourth diameter portion having a fourth diameter; 
 
 
 an arrow point having a shank portion and a head portion, the shank portion having a shank diameter, the shank diameter being greater than the fourth diameter. 
 
   
   
     10. An archery apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the fourth diameter is smaller than the first diameter. 
   
   
     11. An archery apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the generally cylindrical body further comprises a radially outward lip ending from the first end at the second diameter portion. 
   
   
     12. An archery apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein second and third diameter portions comprise first and second fit rings, respectively, sized to fit snugly against an inner diameter of a hollow arrow shaft. 
   
   
     13. An archery apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising a carbon composite arrow shaft receptive of the arrow insert, and the arrow point is threadingly attached to the arrow insert. 
   
   
     14. An archery apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising an arrow shaft comprising an end wall;
 wherein the arrow insert is disposed completely within and below the end wall of the arrow shaft, wherein the arrow point is threadingly attached to the arrow insert, the arrow point comprising a shoulder bearing directly against the end wall of the arrow shaft. 
 
   
   
     15. An apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the second and third diameter portions each comprise an outer diameter sized to fit snugly within an arrow shaft having an inside diameter of 0.200 inches or less. 
   
   
     16. An archery apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the first end comprises metal and the second end comprises plastic. 
   
   
     17. An archery apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein a longitudinal spacing between the second and third diameters is at least approximately one inch. 
   
   
     18. An arrow, comprising:
 a shaft having a first end and a first end wall; 
 an arrow point having a shank portion and a head portion, the shank portion having a shank diameter; 
 an insert receptive of the arrow point, the insert at least partially disposed within the first end of the shaft, the insert comprising: 
 a first fit ring; 
 a second fit ring; 
 a plurality of glue recesses disposed between the first and second fit rings; 
 a bevel disposed on the second fit ring; 
 a necked-down portion disposed between the first and second fit rings, the necked-down portion having a necked-down diameter, the necked-down diameter being less than the shank diameter. 
 
   
   
     19. An arrow according to  claim 18 , further comprising a neck disposed between the first and second fit rings. 
   
   
     20. An arrow according to  claim 18  wherein the insert is completely disposed below the end wall of the shaft. 
   
   
     21. An arrow according to  claim 18  wherein the first and second fit rings are separated by at least about one inch. 
   
   
     22. A method of coupling a point to an arrow shaft, comprising:
 pressing an insert into the arrow shaft; 
 wherein the pressing the insert into the arrow shaft comprises contacting an outer diameter of a first fit ring with an inside diameter of the arrow shaft and contacting an outer diameter of a second fit ring with the inside diameter of the arrow shaft wherein the second fit ring comprises a beveled edge, the insert including a necked-down portion disposed between the first and second fit rings, the necked-down portion having a necked-down diameter; 
 threading the point to the insert; 
 wherein the threading the point into the insert comprises inserting a shank portion of the point into engagement with the insert, the shank portion having a shank diameter, the shank diameter being greater than the necked-down diameter. 
 
   
   
     23. A method of coupling a point to an arrow shaft according to  claim 22 , further comprising spacing the first fit ring from the second fit ring. 
   
   
     24. A method of coupling a point to an arrow shaft according to  claim 22  wherein the pressing the point insert into the shaft comprises inserting the insert below an end wall of the arrow shaft. 
   
   
     25. An apparatus, comprising:
 an arrow insert, the arrow insert comprising:
 a cup; 
 a piston and rod connected to the cup, the rod having a rod diameter; 
 a beveled edge formed on the piston; 
 
 an arrow point having a shank portion and a head portion, the shank portion having a shank diameter, the shank diameter being greater than the rod diameter. 
 
   
   
     26. The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the rod interconnects the cup and the piston. 
   
   
     27. The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the cup and the rod are hollow, and the cup is open to the rod, and wherein the piston and a portion of the cup comprise a same diameter. 
   
   
     28. An arrow tip assembly comprising:
 an arrow insert comprising:
 a first fit ring dimensioned to fit snugly against an inside surface of an arrow shaft; 
 a second fit ring dimensioned to fit snugly against the inside surface of the arrow shaft; 
 a stepped-down portion separating the first fit ring from the second fit ring, the stepped-down portin having a stepped-down diameter; 
 a beveled edge formed on the second fit ring; 
 an arrow point removably secured to the arrow insert, the arrow point having a head portion and a shank portion, the shank portion having a shank diameter, the shank diameter being greater than the stepped-down diameter. 
 
 
   
   
     29. An arrow tip assembly comprising:
 a fitting portion, the fitting portion comprising: 
 a first fit ring; 
 a second fit ring; 
 a rod connecting the first and second fit rings, the rod having a rod diameter; 
 an elongate-tube-shaped gap formed between the first and second fit rings and around the rod; 
 a beveled edge formed on the second fit ring; 
 an arrow point secured to the fitting portion, the arrow point having a head portion and a shank portion, the shank portion having a shank diameter, the shank diameter being greater than the rod diameter. 
 
   
   
     30. An arrow tip assembly comprising:
 a dumbbell-shaped fitting portion comprising: 
 a first end; 
 a second end; 
 a bar connecting the first end to the second end, the bar having a bar diameter; 
 a beveled edge formed on the second end; 
 an arrow point secured to the fitting portion, the arrow point having a head portion and a shank portion, the shank portion having a shank diameter, the shank diameter being greater than the bar diameter.